The Mauritius Islands are a small group of islands located in the Indian Ocean, about 800 kilometres east of Madagascar. The islands are volcanic in origin, and their peaks are often shrouded in clouds.
The coastline is indented with sheltered bays and coral reefs. Mauritius’s main island is about 60 kilometres long and 20 kilometres wide. The population of the islands is about 1.3 million.
What is Mauritius Famous for?
To believe what Mark Twain said about Mauritius is hard until you see it for yourself! His trip to Mauritius in 1896 led him to write that the people there told him that heaven was made like Mauritius.
You might think that the people of Mauritius are exaggerating, but if you stay here, you’ll feel like you’re sitting on the lap of Mother Earth.
When you look at the Indian Ocean, which has a lot of beaches and waterfalls, it looks like heaven on earth. In addition, you will be amazed by the hospitality of the Mauritians who came from many different countries.
You can visit beautiful natural places like the seven-coloured Chamarel plains and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can also try water sports, go hiking, play golf, or watch the famous Champs de Mars races while you are in Paris.
Out at sea, there are 49 islands. Most of them aren’t very populated. There are a lot of things Mauritius is known for. Keep scrolling down to find out more about them!
1. Bol renversé
Your trip to Mauritius won’t be complete if you don’t try the delicious bol renversé, which means “upside-down bowl” in Creole. A taste of this delicious Sino-Mauritian dish will make you want to eat more.
An egg on top, chicken chop suey in the middle and basmati rice at the bottom make up this dish. The best thing about bol renversé is that you can use seafood suey or even vegetarian suey in place of the chicken suey in the recipe.
However, when you eat it with the egg’s golden yolk running down the sides of the chicken suey and basmati rice, it’s heaven. Add green chilli paste or tomato salad to it.
2. Rum
Mauritius makes one of the best rums you can buy for $25. This rum was made with sugar canes that were grown in Mauritius’ volcanic soil, which made them sweet.
These cookies come in different flavours, such as vanilla-infused coconut and cinnamon. You can also choose from flavours like lychee, coffee and more.
However, the rum made from sugarcane juice is one of the best. In fact, Mauritius is the world’s biggest exporter of sugarcane byproducts and plays a big role in the supply of rum.
3. Many languages
If language is the map of culture, then multilingual Mauritius has a lot of cultures because it has so many different people. If you learn that most people in Mauritius speak two or three languages, you will be shocked.
In Mauritius, a lot of people from different countries come to work on sugarcane plantations. This means that there is a lot of cultural exchange. This led to people talking in more than one language.
Most people in Mauritius speak English or French, which are used for official things. A lot of people in Mauritius can speak French-based Mauritian Creole. Marathi, Malayalam, Mandarin, Hindi, Bhojpuri, Telugu, Urdu, and Tamil are some of the other languages that people in Mauritius speak.
4. Tea
Mauritius is known for its tea and plantations that smell great. You can buy good tea for as little as $10. To grow the best tea leaves in the world, you need to live on an island with a lot of hills and a lot of rain.
Many tea plantations have been around for more than a century, so watching traditional tea-making is a fun thing to do.
Tea that tastes and smells great all over the world comes from fresh and natural hand-picked tea leaves. These tea leaves also have a lot of antioxidants and a lot of other good things in them.
5. White beaches
If you want to go to the beach, Mauritius is the place for you. There are a lot of beautiful white beaches on this island that are worth seeing.
It also has a lot of fun things for people to do, like windsurfing, boating, and flying kites. People who live in the north of Mauritius have the most white beaches, which are lined by casuarina and eucalyptus trees.
East, you can see the clean and clear, white sandy beaches that gently slope into the warm azure blue sea. Wet and golden sand on the West coast, and wide-open landscapes in both the North and the South.
6. Temperate climate
During the year, Mauritius has pleasant tropical weather. You can go there at any time of the year. Seeing rain in one part of Mauritius and sunny skies in another part will surprise you. This is because the island has a unique climate.
The weather can change quickly. The summer months in Mauritius are from November to April, and the winter months are from May to October.
This is a surprise. The coastal areas stay warmer than the central plateau all year round. Even though there isn’t much of a seasonal difference, the coastal areas stay warmer than the central plateau by four to five degrees.
7. Dodo souvenirs
There are a lot of things you can buy in Mauritius as a souvenir in honour of the island’s famous bird, the Dodo. To remember the world-famous bird, people in Mauritius make gifts of it.
Many different things are available in this section, such as t-shirts and caps. You can also find keychains, paintings and mugs as well as many other things here. Don’t forget to buy one to remember your trip to Mauritius.
8. Rougaille
Rougaille is a dish that is very popular in Mauritius. It has many different names, but it is a very popular dish there. Because it’s a tomato-based dish with a lot of spices, it goes well with almost any food.
Some people can have it with salad and some people can eat it with eggs, prawns, and sausage. They all love this tasty dish. Onions, ginger, garlic and a lot of other spices make up this dish.
It also has curry leaves and spring onions. Do not forget about this delicious tomato sauce to make your trip to Mauritius even more fun!
9. Black River Gorges National Park
Go to Black River Gorges Park for plants, birds, and animals that live in Mauritius. 60 km (37.3 mi) of trails cover an area of 67.5 sq km (26.1 sq miles). You can go trekking on them.
We have the Maccabee Trail, which is 10 km (6.2 mi) long and hard, and the Mare Longue Reservoir, which is 12 km (7.1 mi) long and easy.
You can hike to the top of Black River Peak by taking the 6-km (3.7-mile) return trail for spectacular views. Animals and birds of all kinds will make you want to look closer. Flying foxes and birds like parakeets and bulbul will make you want to look closer.
10. Islands
Even though Mauritius Island is the face of the Republic of Mauritius, there are a lot of other islands in the same area that you can visit. There are 49 islands in the world that haven’t been changed by the modern world.
You can enjoy nature’s gifts there. St. Brandon Island, Rodrigues Island, and Agalega Island are three of the most important islands in the area.
Take a look at other beautiful islands, like Le Souffleur, a hidden treasure that was made centuries ago when rough sea waves crashed against hot volcanic rocks.
Which Country Owns Mauritius?
Mauritius is an island country in the Indian Ocean. It is off the east coast of Africa and is in the Indian Ocean. It is part of the Mascarene Islands in terms of how it looks. Port Louis is the capital.
Land
It is about 500 miles (800 km) east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, and it is in the same area. Rodrigues Island is about 340 miles (550 km) to the east, the Cargados Carajos Shoals are about 250 miles (400 km) northeast.
And the Agalega Islands are about 580 miles (930 km) north of the main island. Mauritius also claims to own the Chagos Archipelago, which includes Diego Garcia, which is 1,250 miles (2,000 km) to the northeast. This claim isn’t agreed upon by Britain.
Relief and drainage
There are a lot of coral reefs around the island of Mauritius, which is made up of volcanoes and volcanic rocks. The northern part is a flat area that rises to a central plateau, which is about 900 to 2,400 feet (270 to 730 meters) above sea level.
The northern part of the country is mostly flat. In the southwest, the highest point is Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire, which is 2,717 feet (828 meters) above sea level.
The plateau is surrounded by small mountains, which may have been formed by the rim of an old volcano. The Grand River South East and the Black River are the two main sources of hydroelectric power. Vacoas, one of the main lakes, is the main source of water because it has a lot of water.
Soils and climate
Half the country is arable, and almost all of it grows sugarcane, the main export crop. Vegetables and tea for people in the area to eat are also grown.
The climate is maritime subtropical, which means that the temperature stays about the same all year long. A lot of people live on a high plateau where the average temperature is in the 70s F (low to mid-20s C).
At sea level, the temperature usually ranges from 70 to 80 F (20 to 25 C). It’s hot from December to April, and it’s cold from May to October (June to September).
A typical year sees around 35 inches (900 mm) of rain on the west coast and 60 inches (1,525 mm) on the southeast coast. The central plateau gets 200 inches (5,080 mm) of rain each year.
Plant and animal life
Some 600 native species are found in the vegetation, even though very little of the original forest is still there, even though it is very dry.
This includes the long-tailed, dark brown deer, the tenrec (a spiny insectivore), and the mongoose, as well as a lot of birds and bugs.
Once, the dodo lived on the island, which was home to a bird that could not fly. The dodo died out in 1681. There were a lot of efforts made in the late 20th century to save a lot of other species of endemic birds that were close to extinction.
Mauritius Island
Mauritius, a tropical island paradise and one of Africa’s wealthiest places, is one of the world’s best places for luxury tourism. Among its many natural and man-made attractions, it has a tropical climate with clear, warm seawater and beautiful beaches.
It also has a multi-ethnic and cultural population that is friendly and welcoming. As a tourism asset, this country has a lot of things that make it strong.
It has well-designed hotels, well-run services and well-functioning infrastructures to back up its tourism assets. Mauritius won the World’s Best Beach award for the third time at the World Travel Awards in January 2012. Mauritius was also named the World’s Best Island Destination.
Hotels in Mauritius
This is what TripAdvisor says about the three best luxury beach resorts in Mauritius. LUX* Grand Gaube, Belle Mare, and Le Morne are the top three.
LUX* Belle Mare is on the east coast of Mauritius, and it has a lot of rooms. In the southwest of the island, LUX* Le Morne is. In the north, LUX* Grand Gaube is. See if there are other hotels in Mauritius.
What to do in Mauritius
Mauritius has a lot of natural beauty and things to do that everyone can enjoy. Check out the 7-Coloured Earths of Chamarel, the Black River Gorges, and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the island.
For people who like to play sports, there are a lot of world-class golf courses and a lot of water sports, like deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling, and kite surfing.
You can go on a hike through the lush forest, or you can ride a bicycle around the nearby villages and markets to see them. The island has a lot of colonial history that you can learn about, as well as interesting local culture and a lot of different and colourful religious festivals.
There are hundreds of shopping centres that sell locally made textiles, jewellery, sugar, and other local foods.
Visit the nature reserves where you can see some of the native endangered species, both in the sea and on land, and you can learn about them. Every day in Mauritius is a chance to learn something new, so don’t miss it!
Rodriguez Island
Rodriguez is a 42 square-mile island that isn’t part of Mauritius. It is the second-largest island in the country. In the same way that Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands, Rodriguez is too. The other island in the group is Reunion.
Among the small islands on the coast are creeks with sand and coral reefs. Until December 10, 2002, the island was part of Mauritius. Before that, it was the 10th District of the island. The Rodriguez Regional Assembly is in charge of the island, and Port Mathurin is the capital or main city.
Almost 41,000 people of mixed African and French descent lived there in 2014. Farming, fishing, handicrafts, and tourism are the main sources of income.
Before the 17th century, the island was home to many plant and animal species that have been killed off. As an example, Rodriguez Solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria), a bird that didn’t fly, is no more.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has put the Rodriguez flying fox on its “red list,” which is a list of animals that are in danger.
To bring back some of the plant life that has been lost, the government has set aside some forests as nature reserves. Ile aux Cocos, Sables, Grand Montagne, and Anse Quitor are some of the places you can go.
The Agalega Islands
There are two Indian Ocean islands called the Agalega Islands, which are 620 miles north of Mauritius Island. They are two islands in the Indian Ocean.
People live on the North Agalega and the South Island. The North Agalega is 3.4 square miles, and the South Island has 5.9 square miles of land. There is only one village in South Agalega: Ste Rita. Vingt Cinq is the capital of North Agalega and the airstrip.
One island is 1.5 kilometres away from the other by sand. People have to wait for the high tides so they can cross over. The main road tracks are made of sand. From afar, the island looks like a green jewel in the middle of a sea of blue.
An island called Agalega has a unique plant called a coconut. There is a Day Gecko in the wild. Coconut oil and copra are made and sold on the islands.
Residents also keep chickens, cows, and grow vegetables for their own food. Around 300 people live on both islands. Before recently, there was no money exchange, and people relied on government vouchers to live.
Ile Aux Cerfs
People who own Ile Aux Cerfs live on it east of Mauritius Island and in the Flacq District. The island is the largest lagoon in Mauritius.
It has more than 0.46 square miles of vegetation and white sandy beaches that haven’t been changed in any way. Boats are used by tourists who visit this island. Aux Cerfs Golf Club, Beach restaurant, and a lot of water sports are also found on the island.
Conclusion
The Mauritius Islands are a beautiful and welcoming destination for tourists. The islands offer a variety of activities and attractions, including pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and lush green hills.
Visitors can enjoy a relaxing vacation on the beach, explore the islands’ rich culture and history, or go on adventurous excursions. The Mauritius Islands are sure to please everyone who visits.